Boeing 737 NG to 737 MAX
This course is for pilots qualified on the 737 NG, mostly the 737-800, who are moving to the 737 MAX or will fly both in a mixed fleet, and for cadets and interview candidates who want to know what really changed. It sets out each difference the regulators list, why it matters and what you do differently, with the figures taken from the FAA and EASA documents named below. Where an item is optional or depends on your operator, the module says so; your AFM, FCOM and QRH always govern.
The regulators treat the MAX as another 737. Under the FAA every model shares the B-737 type rating, and the Flight Standardization Board sets Level B differences training and checking from the NG to the MAX. On top of that, since the 2019 to 2020 grounding, every pilot must complete the special ground and simulator training of FSB Appendix 7 before operating the MAX, and EASA's operational suitability data add five training areas of special emphasis.
Modules 1 to 4 cover the MAX family and your type rating, the airframe with its dimensions and weights, the LEAP-1B engines, and the flight deck and displays. Modules 5 to 8 cover the flight controls, MCAS and stabiliser trim, the remaining systems chapter by chapter, normal and non-normal procedures with the special training, and a one-page quick reference for revision.
Preview module 1 →Modules
- The MAX Family and Your Type RatingThe 737 MAX models, why they share the B-737 type rating with the NG, the FAA differences levels A to E and what they require from NG to MAX, where the Appendix 7 special training fits, and the facts of the 2019 to 2020 grounding.MODULE 1 · 7 MIN READ
- Airframe, Dimensions and WeightsWhat changes on the outside of the MAX and on paper: engines, winglets, nose gear, tailskid and tail lights, dimensions, exits and seating by model, certified weights, and the altitude, speed and other limits in the type certificate.MODULE 2 · 7 MIN READ
- EnginesThe CFM LEAP-1B that replaces the NG's CFM56-7B: engine models in the type certificate, why the installation matters, the EEC, indication, alert and thrust reverser changes the FSB lists, thrust setting, starting and limitations.MODULE 3 · 6 MIN READ
- Flight Deck and DisplaysThe MAX Display System's four large screens against the NG's six display units, display formats and switching, the engine display control panel, EFIS panel, PFD and standby instruments, the two-position landing gear lever, and the FMC and CDU changes.MODULE 4 · 6 MIN READ
- Flight Controls, MCAS and Stabiliser TrimThe fly-by-wire spoilers and their new functions, how MCAS works after the 2020 return-to-service update, and the changes to speed trim, stabiliser trim, STAB OUT OF TRIM and AOA DISAGREE, with the FSB level for each.MODULE 5 · 7 MIN READ
- Systems by ATA ChapterThe remaining design differences in the FSB table from the 737-800 to the 737-8, grouped by ATA chapter with their training and checking levels, then the flight deck and procedure differences between the 737-8 and the 737-7, 737-9 and 737-8200.MODULE 6 · 6 MIN READ
- Procedures and Special TrainingWhat changes in normal and non-normal procedures on the 737 MAX, the special ground and simulator training of FSB Appendix 7, and the additional requirements EASA set for the return to service.MODULE 7 · 7 MIN READ
- Quick ReferenceOne side-by-side table of the main differences between the 737-800 and the 737-8 with their FSB training and checking levels, then a revision list of the facts and figures to know.MODULE 8 · 5 MIN READ
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a new type rating to fly the 737 MAX?
Not under the FAA. Its Flight Standardization Board report gives every 737, including the 737-7, -8, -8200 and -9, the single B-737 type rating, because they are related aircraft on one type certificate. A pilot current on the 737 NG adds the MAX through differences training. In EASA's type certificate data sheet the MAX flight crew data carry the same Boeing document number as the NG's; confirm the licence endorsement wording with your authority.
What differences training level does the FAA set from the 737 NG to the 737 MAX?
The FAA's master differences table sets Level B training and checking from the 737NG to the 737 MAX, with a flag, E*, pointing to the special training in Appendix 7 of the FSB report. In practice that means computer-based or classroom training for most items, plus five simulator events, mostly in a 737 MAX Level C or D full flight simulator, before the first MAX flight. No supervised line flying is required between the two.
What is the Appendix 7 special training?
Appendix 7 of the FAA FSB report lists the ground and simulator training every pilot must complete before operating the 737 MAX. Ground training covers MCAS, the autopilot and flight director changes, the revised trim alerts, manual trim technique, unreliable airspeed and seven non-normal checklists. Flight training includes an MCAS activation demonstration, a runaway stabiliser flown with manual trim, a cross-FCC trim monitor event flown to a landing and an erroneous high angle of attack on takeoff.
Which engines does the 737 MAX use, and how do they differ from the NG's?
The 737 MAX uses two CFM LEAP-1B engines; the EASA type certificate data sheet lists the LEAP-1B25, -1B27, -1B28, -1B28B1 and -1B28BBJ1. The NG uses the CFM56-7B family. The FAA describes the LEAP-1B as larger and more powerful, mounted higher and farther forward. For the crew, the FSB lists new engine and reverser alerts, a revised engine display with no compact format, an icing idle speed and the removal of the overboost rating.
What changes in the 737 MAX flight deck?
The six display units of the NG's Common Display System give way to the MAX Display System with four large screens. The FSB also lists a two-position landing gear lever, an updated and relocated engine display control panel, a dedicated VSD switch, a standard integrated standby flight display, an AUX display with flight number, transponder, SELCAL and time, and new FMC fuel alerts. Most of these are Level B training and checking.
Why was the 737 MAX grounded?
After the Lion Air flight 610 accident in October 2018 and the Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 accident in March 2019, authorities suspended 737 MAX operations; EASA on 12 March and the FAA on 13 March 2019. The FAA found that erroneous data from a single angle of attack sensor could trigger repeated MCAS nose-down stabiliser trim. Flight control and display software, wiring, procedures and training were changed before the aircraft returned to service from November 2020.
Unlock every module
Difference Training is part of PRO, with every question bank on v1prep. Or unlock the Boeing 737 NG to 737 MAX course and its quiz alone for €11.99, 12 months, no subscription, full refund within 14 days. Either way, Pilot CV Pro is included while it runs.
Continue in v1prep → See PRO plansSources
- FAA Flight Standardization Board Report, Boeing 737, Revision 17 (November 2020)
- FAA Flight Standardization Board Report, Boeing 737, Revision 21 (draft)
- Summary of the FAA's Review of the Boeing 737 MAX (November 2020)
- EASA Boeing 737 MAX Return to Service Report (January 2021)
- EASA Type Certificate Data Sheet IM.A.120, Boeing 737 (Issue 29, December 2025)
Difference Training on v1prep is for study, interview and exam preparation. It does not replace your operator's approved differences training, your AFM, FCOM and QRH, or the regulators' documents, which always govern.